IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


IL25  HI  1.4 


tttlU    |U 

1.6 


Photographic 
.Sciences 
Corporation 


23  ViWi  m-Ui  STKilT 

WHSTIR.N.Y.  )4SS0 

(716)  S73-4503 


WS-«T 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  da  microreproductions  historiquat 


Tvchnieal  and  Bibliographic  Notaa/Nottt  tachniqua*  at  bibliographiquat 


Tha  Inttituta  haa  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  tills 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographlcally  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagas  in  tha 
raproduction,  or  which  may  aignificantly  changa 
tha  usual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chaclcad  balow. 


□   Colourad  covers/ 
Couvartura  da  coulaur 


I     I   Covars  damagad/ 


D 


D 


D 


D 


Couvartura  andommagia 

Covars  rastorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  rastaurte  at/ou  palliculte 


I     I   Covar  titia  missing/ 


La  titra  da  couvartura  manqua 


n~|   Colourad  maps/ 


Cartas  giographiquas  an  coulaur 


□   Colourad  inic  (i.a.  othar  than  blua  or  blacic)/ 
Encra  da  coulaur  (i.a.  autra  qua  blaua  ou  noira) 

|~~|   Colourad  platas  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planchas  at/ou  illustrations  an  coulaur 


Bound  with  othar  matarial/ 
Rail*  avac  d'autras  documents 


[^    Tight  binding  may  causa  shadows  or  distortion 


along  intarior  margin/ 

La  raliura  sarria  paut  causer  da  I'ombre  ou  de  le 

distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  int4rieure 

Blenic  leeves  sdded  during  restoration  may 
appeer  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
heve  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certeines  peges  blanches  ejoutAes 
tors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
meis,  iorsque  cela  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pes  At*  filmAes. 

Additionel  comments:/ 
Conr.menteires  supplAmentaires: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm*  le  meilieur  exempiaire 
qu'il  lui  a  *t4  poaeible  de  aa  procurer.  Lea  ditaiis 
da  cet  exempiaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniquee  du 
point  de  vue  bibiiographiqua,  qui  pauvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dana  la  mithoda  normala  de  filmege 
sont  indiquis  ci-deesous. 


r~~|   Coloured  pages/ 


D 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagias 


□   Pages  restored  end/or  leminatad/ 
Pages  restaurias  at/ou  pailicultes 


Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  dicoiorAes.  tachaties  ou  piquAes 


□   Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ditachAas 


Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


I     I   Quality  of  print  varies/ 


Quality  inAgale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  mat4riel  supplAmentaire 

Only  edition  availebie/ 
Seule  Mition  disponibie 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  imego/ 
Les  peges  totalement  ou  pertieilement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'erreta,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  AtA  fiimtes  A  nouveau  de  fe^on  A 
obtenir  le  meilleure  image  possible. 


Tl 
to 


Tr 

pc 
of 
fill 


Oi 
bi 
th 
si< 
ot 
fir 
si< 
or 


T^ 
sh 

Til 

wl 

Ml 
dil 

s 

re 
mi 


This  item  is  filmed  et  the  reduction  retio  checiced  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmii  au  tsux  de  rAduc  ion  indiqu*  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


^ 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


lilt 

difier 
jn« 

lage 


Th«  copy  fllmad  Kara  has  baan  raproducad  thank* 
to  tha  o*naroaity  of: 

Library  Diviiion 

Provincial  Archi»ei  of  British  Columbia 

Tha  imagaa  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  baat  quality 
poaaibia  conaidaring  tha  condition  and  laglbillty 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  apacification*. 


L'axampiaira  f  Ilm4  f  ut  raproduit  grica  i  la 
ginAroait*  da: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

La*  imaga*  aulvanta*  ont  At4  raproduita*  avac  la 
plus  grand  soln.  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattat*  da  l'axampiaira  film4.  at  mn 
conformity  avac  la*  condition*  du  contrat  da 
filmaga. 


Original  copla*  in  printad  papar  covar*  ara  filmad 
baginning  with  the  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad  or  iiluatratad  impra*- 
*ion.  or  tha  back  covar  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  copla*  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
firat  paga  with  a  printad  or  iiluatratad  impraa- 
aion,  and  anding  on  tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad 
or  iiluatratad  impraaaion. 


Tha  laat  racordad  frama  on  aach  i.'<icroficha 
ahaii  contain  tha  symbol  — ^  (marking  "CON- 
TINUED ").  or  tha  symbol  Y  Imaanng  "cND  "). 
whichavar  applias. 


Las  axamplairaa  originaux  dont  la  couvartura  an 
papiar  aat  ImprlmAa  aont  f  ilmAa  an  commandant 
par  la  pramiar  plat  at  an  tarminant  soit  par  la 
darnlAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'impraasion  ou  d'illustration.  soit  par  la  sacond 
plat,  salon  la  caa.  Touc  laa  autraa  axamplairaa 
originaux  sont  filmAs  an  commandant  par  la 
pramiira  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'impraasion  ou  d'illustration  at  an  tarminant  par 
la  darnlAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  talla 
amprainta. 

Un  das  symbolas  suivants  apparaltra  sur  la 
darniira  imaga  da  chaqua  microficha.  salon  la 
cas:  la  symbols  —^  signifia  "A  SUIVRE".  la 
symbols  V  signifia  "FIN". 


Maps,  platas,  charts,  ate,  may  ba  filmad  at 
diffarant  raduction  ratios.  Thosa  too  larga  to  ba 
antiraly  includad  In  ona  axposura  ara  filmad 
baginning  in  tha  uppar  laft  hand  cornar.  laft  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  framas  as 
raquirad.  Tha  following  diagrams  illustrata  tha 
mathod: 


Las  cartas,  planchas.  tablaaux.  ate.  pauvant  Atra 
filmte  A  das  taux  da  reduction  diffArants. 
Lorsqua  la  documant  ast  trop  grand  pour  Atra 
raproduit  9n  un  saul  clich*.  il  ast  f  iimA  A  partir 
da  I'angla  supAriaur  gaucha.  da  gaucha  A  drolta. 
at  da  haut  an  bas.  an  pranant  la  nombra 
d'imagas  nicassaira.  Las  diagrammas  suivants 
illustrant  la  mAthodc. 


rata 

0 


lalura. 


1 

2 

3 

32X 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

kr 


^  eAiyti/iuiest 
CoUecUorv 


SPEECH 


0  P* 


MR.  MOUSE  OF  LOUISIANA, 


O  N    J'  H  K 


o  li  B']  a  0  N  Q  u  i:  s  t  s  o  n  . 


!)  r  1. 1  V  !•:  11 1;  ]) 


I N    T  U  K    H  0  U  S  E    O  I'   R  Fi  I'  R  E  S  K  \S  'T  A  T  I  V  H  S , 


JAM  ART    15,    lS4t> 


AV  A  S  K  I  xN  GT  O  N : 

rnLNTKlJ   AT  Til;;    l.NION  OPFirfs 

1  S  1 0. 


m^ 


t^ 


-H^ 


SPEECH. 


f)n  the  resolution  giving  the  tuvelve  months*  notice  for  the  termination  of  the  joint 

occupancy  of  the  Oregon  territory. 


^ 


\ 


* 


Mr  MORSE  rose  and  said- 
Mr.  Chairman:  I  had  ho|Md  that  the  committee 
would  have  risen,  first  for  the  few  hours  of  prepa- 
ratian  it  would  have  afforded  me;  and  secondly,  not 
to  have  been  compelled  immediately  to  follow  the 
eloquent  gentleman  from  Virginia;  but  as  the  House 
deeire  to  hear  another  speech,  I  will  goon. 

Mr.  Chairman,  a  I  may  possibly  separate  from 
aome  of  those  frieni.  s  with  whom  I  have  been  in 
the  habit  of  acting  in  tliis  House,  and  as  1  shall 
give  a  different  vote  from  the  one  I  gave  on  a  similar 
proposition  last  year,  I  desire  to  state  briefly  the 
teaiions  which  have  influenced  me  in  the  determina- 
t.on  to  vote  for  this  notice,  and  1  state  in  all  frank- 
ness that  it  is  with  reLctance  that  I  follow  the  gen- 
tleman from  Virginia,  for  it  is  not  an  affectation  of 
modeflty,  when  I  assure  you  that  it  is  not  in  my 
power  to  entertain  the  House  with  any  of  those  el- 
oquent and  patriotic  appeals,  those  meteoric  flashes 
of  wit,  or  that  strong  rein  of  humor,  with  which 
this  discussion  has  been  from  time  to  time  enlivened 
by  so  many  gentlemen,  who  have  preceded  me  in 
the  argument  on  the  resolutions  upon  your  table. 

N'or  is  it  my  intention  to  make  a  speech  to  pre- 
pare the  minds  and  hearts  of  the  American  people 
for  war;  I  yield  to  no  man  in  my  admiration  of  the 
policy  of  peace,  which  has,  in  the  short  period  of  thirty 
years,  advanced  our  country  almost  to  the  front 
rank  in  agriculture,  commerce,  and  manufactures, 
a:id  which,  if  persevered  in  for  thirty  years  more, 
n'.u3t  place  her  first  in  all  those  great  elements  of  na- 
tional wealth. 

And  while  I  believe,  in  n  just  quarrel,  these  United 
Stetee  "are  confident  against  the  world  in  arms,"  I 
carnot  agree  with  some  of  our  western  friends,  that 
the  American  eagle  will  sweep  the  cross  of  St. 
Greorge  from  this  continent,  and  throw  the  British 
lior  into  the  Pacific,  without  the  ruffle  of  a  single 
feather. 

Sir.  this  notice  will  never  be  the  cause  of  war. 
0-pgon  will  never  be  the  ciuisc  of  war.  It  may  be 
t(ie  pretence;  and  if  so,  it  will  be  a  war  of  principle — 
monarchy  against  refiublicanism,  the  aristocratic 
f>w  of  God's  anointed  against  the  (H  nolloi  of  the  de- 
mocracy— and  it  cannot  but  be  a  bloody  war;  but 


with  u  firm  reliance  on  the  continuance  of  that  di- 
vine protection,  and  the  trusty  blades  of  millions  of 
freemen,  who  own  no  rulers  but  of  their  choice,  1 
have  no  fears  for  the  ultimate  result. 

It  seems,  then,  to  be  conceded  with  perfect  una- 
nimity, that  we  have  a  clear  title  to  the  territory  of 
Oregon  up  to  the  49°,  and  by  a  very  large  majority 
of  this  House,  to  the  whole  country  up  to  54°  W. 
Every  member,  I  believe,  who  has  thus  far  addreoiK 
ed  the  committee,  has  satisfied  himself  that  Oregon 
is  ours.  Whether  deducing  our  right  from  the  dis- 
covery of  Captain  Gray  in  1790;  from  the  explorar 
tion  of  Lewis  and  Clark;  from  the  treaty  with  Spain 
in  1819;  from  contiguity  of  territory;  or  from  mani- 
fest necessity,  that  fact  may  be  assumed  in  this  dis- 
cussion. I  shall,  therefore,  leave  the  title  out  of 
view,  and  proceed  to  offer  a  few  remarks  on  the 
course  which,  in  my  judgment,  it  becomes  the  ^v- 
ernment  to  pursue  in  the  maintenance  of  its  just 
rights,  and  the  ateps  necessary  to  be  taken  to  put 
our  citizens  in  possession  of  that  territory  which  alt 
admit  belongs  to  us,  but  which,  by  some  diplomatic, 
legerdemain,  seems  now  more  to  belong  to  Great 
Britain,  or  rather  the  Hudson  Bay  Company. 

What  is  the  present  condition  of  this  quei>tion' 
After  a  fruitless  negotiation  for  a  number  of  years, 
the  President  informs  us  that  he  ofl'ercd  a  compro- 
mise on  the  parallel  of  49°,  which  was  instantly  ro- 
fused,  and  that  he  ha.«i  withdrawn  the  proposition, 
and  negotiation,  if  it  has  not  come  to  a  close,  has 
at  least  made  a  very  sudden  halt.  Shall  we  reopen 
this  vexed  question — reargue  the  same  old  prepo- 
sitions— go  through  the  same  diplomatic  twistingB 
and  turnings,  without  the  least  hope  of  ever  reaching 
the  end  proposed? 

If  the  success  of  our  negotiations  on  the  northern 
frontier  aflford  us  any  standard  to  judge  of  the  ad- 
vantages of  prolonging  this — if  the  right  to  trade  and 
establish  trading  positions,  without  a  claim  to  a  sin- 
gle foot  of  the  soil  in  fee-simple,  has  grown  so 
strong  by  the  national  laws  of  prescription,  that  Eng- 
land now  indignantly  refuses  nearly  one-half  of  the 
whole  territory,  with  the  navigation  of  the  Colum- 
bia river  twice  superadded,  I  concur  heartily  with 
the  President,  that  the  sooner  the  notice  for  lh«  ces- 
sation of  the  joint  occupancy  is  given  the  better;  and 


( 


•«;%;'?  • 


* 


ihiu  tirings  rtic  to  the  ilificuflfciori  oi"  tlie  racasurc  im- 
.nnrdiately  before  ihcHoui**;. 

1h  it  proper  to  give  this  notice  at  this  lim»;  ?  The 
PreNideni  thinkn  ho,  and  has  so  recommended  in  his 
incflsu^e.  f  las  one  «inf;le  arijviment  been  ndduc<nl 
to  justify  the  posiponrment  of  this  nolir.e  ?  Have 
gentlemen  any  hope  that  negotiation  will  \>c  altle  In 
effect  anything  mor*!  liifiii  it  has  dow;'  L5ut,  way 
gentlemen  on  the  other  side,  This  will  brin;,'  on  the 
war. 

1  draw  no  such  infcren-e.  The  only  effect  will 
be  10  gt:  the  ultimatum  oi  Kngland.  And  here  I  an- 
swer 5ie  c|uetttion  of  the  gentleman  from  Virginia — 
If  I'^ngland  were  now  to  reconsider  her  refusal,  and 
propose  to  accept  the  49th  degrw;  and  it  is  this:  if 
ihiK-  joint  occupHucy  still  continues,  we  are  hound 
i:i  frv  cnnscitntitt  to  accept  it.  But  tincn  give  this 
noticr,  and  this  govr  nment  may  take  4'/',  or  rcfuHe 
It,  without  the  violation  of  any  international  good 
fiuth  express  or  implied. 

The  principal — indeed,  I  may  say  the  only — ob- 
jection which  I  have  heard  urged  by  any  member 
on  this  Hoor,  is  (assuming  this  tu  be  a  war  measure, 
which  f  utterly  deny)  that  we  are  not  sufficiently 
prepared  to  maintain  our  rights  at  this  moment. 
When  will  we  be  stronger:  Will  it  be  to-day,  to- 
morrow, or  in  five  years:  The  American  people 
■will  never,  in  lime  of  peace,  consent  to  tax  them- 
■elves  to  support  large  standing  armies  or  powerful 
fleets  for  an  emergency  that  may  never  happen — for 
a  war  iixj'uturo  It  must  be  a  war  in  tssr,  and  then 
their  purses  and  swords  will  always  be  freely 
placed  at  the  disposal  of  your  President.  Sir, 
we  all  have  read  the  story  of  a  people— scarce- 
ly three  millions  of  souls — who,  in  resisting 
tt  simple  parliamentary  enactment  touching  some 
tea  or  paper,  which  they  might  use  or  not;  when 
«  large  minority  of  that  people  were,  if  not  op- 
posed, disposed  to  be  neutral,  without  money  or 
credit,  branded  with  a  traitor's  name,  and  thn.atened 
with  H  felon's  grave,  defied  that  power,  who  had 
studded  the  earth  with  fortifications,  and  whitened 
the  ocean  with  her  sails,  and,  for  a  principle,  en- 
gaged in  an  ei»ht  yeara'  war  with  that  "nation,  up- 
on whose  dominion.s  the  sun  never  set,"  and  "forced 
the  English  lion  to  acknowledge  the  independence 
of  the  American  eagle."  Sir,  it  was  then  pro- 
posed to  delay  this  Question  of  principle.  What 
"Virginian — nay,  sir,  whet  American— has  not  felt  his 
heart  bound  in  his  school-boy  days,  at  the  indig- 
nant rebuke  of  the  forest-born  Demosthenes. 

Sir,  there  is  a  more  recent  event,  quorum  minima 
parsfui,  when  it  was  proposed  to  admit  a  revolted 
province  of  a  sister  republic  into  this  Union;  and 
great  and  wise  politicians  discoursed  most  learnedly 
about  the  advantages  of  delay;  that  it  must  ulti- 
mately certainly  be  yours;  and  although  the  accredi- 
ted minister  of  that  sister  republic  demanded  his 
passports,  and  threatened  war,  we  did  what  we 
thought  our  duty,  regardleijs  of  all  consequences. 
What  constitutes  the  difference  between  the  cases 
now  and  then.'  Was  it  because  oar  right  to  annex 
Tejcas  was  considered  a  violation  of  the  treaty  with 
Mexico.'  I  will  not  pursue  this  inquiry  farther. 
But  for  my  single  self,  I  have  a  little  of  that  feelin{f 
"that  would  ratlur   rouse  a  lion  than  start  a  hare." 

But  I  will  pursue  the  argument  for  this  notice.  I 
would  not  vote  for  the  notice  last  year,  beaiuse  wc 
were  hourly  expecting  nn  amicable  compromise, 
although  1  could  not  well  understand  what  there 
was  to  compromiise,  if,  as  gentleman  say,  the  title 
10  the  whole  of  Oregou  isoure;  and  because  I  would 


not  v/illingly  ;;ive  either  the  Ptrongeat  or  Uc 
weakest  nation  any  reasonable  grounds  of  of- 
fence. Because  I  would  not  lightly  hazard  the 
hope  of  a  satisfactory  settlement  of  thia  question; 
because,  not  having  the  same  means  of  ascertaining 
tlie  .situation  of  the  negotiation  which  belong?*  to 
the  President,  I  would  not  interfere  with  his  policy 
on  that  subject.  Hut  now,  tempora  mulantem,  tt 
f\-r.  When  negotiation  is  virtually  at  an  ind; 
when  the  Knglish  government  has  for  the  fourth 
(ami  last  time  1  hope^  rciiiued  the  parallel  of  49^, 
and  lui''  concluded  to  wait  for  a  more  equitab!')  offer 
on  the  part  of  our  ^v;"'*r.iinent;  when  the  President 
has  signified  his  wikIi  to  give  thia  notice,  am'  ha« 
called  upon  this  IfnuMc  to  show  by  their  vote  that 
they  think  with  him,  sliall  we  grow  circumspect  at 
last.'  Shall  we  ilnow  dutriist  upon  our  title,  not 
only  up  to  ^4,  but  even  to  49 — or  shall  wo  Iwid  t^e 
English  govt-rnmon'  and  the  world  at  large  to  be- 
lieve that  wo  will  ever  offer  a  better  compromifiC 
than  wt)  have  before  ofioredr — 49  twice,  with  'lie  navi- 
gation of  the  Culuiiibia  river  superadded.  '^Periik 
the  thought;  nicer,  nn'er,  never;  logo-like,  to  the  PorUi« 
sea,  xthose  inj  currenl  and  compulsive  course  fctiowt  «o 
returning  eft/i,"  we  will  never  recede  one  inch  from 
our  just  pretensions  to  Oregon. 

sir,  this  notice  does  not  involve  a  war.  Is  it  not 
provided  for  in  the  convention?  la  it  not  carry infj 
out  the  treaty?  Did  the  contracting  powers  soaecni 
it  when  the  treaty  was  made?  On  the  c/yntr&ty, 
would  not  the  arming  of  your  additional  regiments, 
building  your  stockades,  and  all  and  each  of  the 
acta  for  which  those  gentlemen,  who  call  themselves 
peculiarly  the  peace  party  on  thia  question,  be  a  vi- 
olation, if  not  of  the  letter,  at  least  of  the  spint  of 
the  treaty?  This,  I  apprehend,  was  the  intention  oi' 
both  the  high  contracting  powers — that  whenever 
each  government  should  have  offered  its  ultimatum, 

"•d  whenever  it  was  ascertained  that  thia  vexed 
question  could  not  be  settled  by  negotiation,  that  at 
Icasta year's  notice  should  be  given,  that  a  8ufli«icr)t 
time  should  be  given  to  both  conntriea  to  prepare  to 
withdraw  their  cjjmmerce  from  each  others  ports  as 
much  as  possible;  in  short,  to  give  time  for  reflec- 
tion to  botn  countries  to  determine  whether  their 
title.'!  were  sufficieuily  strong  to  justify  the  arbitn*- 
mcnt  of  the  sword.  This,  it  strikes  me,  is  the  cojmi- 
mon  sense  view  of  it,  else  why  was  the  wear's  no- 
tice inserted  ?  It  certainly  meana  something.  Do 
gentlemen  suppose  that,  upon  the  receipt  of  thii»  r'it>- 
tice,  England  intends  to  declare  war  ?  I  can  not 
bring  my  mind  to  any  such  conclusion.  This  joint, 
occupancy  is  a  unilateral  contract;  England,  without 
any  title,  has  all  the  advantages  to  be  derived  from 
the  use  of  the  whole  territory,  and  we,  with  the 
clear  title  to  the  whole  of  the  territory,  divide  ilie  oc^ 
cupancy.  I  am  no  prophet,  nor  the  son  of  a  prophet, 
but  1  venture  the  assertion,  that  this  question  never 
will  be  settled,  either  by  negotiation  or  even  by  Jirbi- 
tration,  if  this  country  were  weak  enough  to  submit 
to  il;  and  the  title  to  Oregon  will  be  in  abeyance  un- 
til the  people  of  that  country,  finding  that  the  tenure 
by  which  they  hold  their  property  so  unstable,  de- 
clare themselves  independent,  which,  I  presume, 
England  desires,  and  which  time  will  moat  assured- 
ly bring  about. 

You  must  recollect,  pjr,  that  there  are  other  pc\r- 
tics  m  re  deeply  interested  in  this  matter  than  your- 
selves; the  people  of  Oregon  themselves  feel  the 
want  of  a  "local  habitation  and  n  name;"  their  feel- 
ings, interests,  sympathies,  and  everything,  lew's 
them  to  attach   tiicmpt've;,  to  you,  and  unless  yo.j 


throw  o' 

'.ar.rot  » 

haijon  o 

put  an  ei 

to  <;4)iuiri 

,  factory  i 

Eri^lai 

colonists 

C*.-cgon  V 

et  undei 

made  of 

Will.     N 

taktn  it  I 

Texas  ar 

merit  oft 

Texas  re: 

in  onrgld 

the  argun 

af;»;r  be  in 

ndmi.s.sioi 

Mexico— 

conspired 

would  ha 

cy,  if  per 

will  nevei 

•  governn 

tlie  world 

Jf you  do 

have  a  go 

perfect  kr 

knows  tht 

49°;  but  si 

Mtanding  ii 

■eives  fdv< 

ahe  is  pel 

thid  i<!  lei 

may  be  se 

iodependei 

As   rcgtJ 

indepcndei 

oonncxioii 

all  praciicf 

iron  l.^elonj 

All  the  ad 

to  us  foD  v 

delay  wil 

give  Gren 

If  the  vi^ 
land  find  a 
our  lakin 
think  not 
maintainin 
has  for  thi 
and    yet 
wholesale 
that  she  p 
■he  knows 
"kjeu  nr  t 
■where  the 
from  a   wa 
ahe  could 
that  it  .:«), 
England  is 
State.",  for 
or  for  u  fu 
very  ra{)id 
But   if 
the  vputra 
chairma:i 
and  a'l  oi 
ough;  .:;.'. 


5 


L  or  L'tC 
■  of  of' 
izard  the 
qufstion; 
ierlaining 
elong?*  UJ 
lia  policy 
lantern,  $t 

ai)  <nd} 
f»e  fourth 
lei  of  49<^, 
tabiO  offer 
President 
>,  an(5  Jias 

voic  that 
imsp«ci  at 
r  title,  not 
u  Ic^id  the 
ge  to  be- 
impromitiC 
hMienuvt- 
.  '^Ptriik 
I  the  PotU't* 
'  know%  *o 
I  inch  fi  o)n 

Is  It  not 
t  carry  ir^t} 
;rs  so  decr.i 
e  contrary, 
regiments, 
jch  of  the 
themselves 
on,  be  a  vt- 
le  spint  of 
intentioB  ol' 

whenever 
ultimatum, 
this  vexed 
ion,  that  at 
a  8ufii«icnt 
)  prepare  to 
ers  ports  as 
e  for  reflec- 
ether  their 
the  arbitr.i- 
is  the  aoiu- 

wear's  no- 

stKing.     Do 

;of  thif  no- 

I  can  rsot 

This  joint 
nd,  without 
crived  from 
e,  with  the 
vide  tlic  oo 
)f  a  prophet, 
estion  never 
yen  by  «.rb»- 
;h  to  submit 
ibeyancc  un- 
it the  tenure 
instable,  de- 

I  pres)ime, 
joat  Rssured- 

e  oilier  pi-J- 
r  than  your- 
vea  feel  the 
;"  their  feel- 
thing,  lew's 
1  unlf  8S  yo.j 


t^irow  over  them  the  irgis  of  Amerirfji  liberty,  you  i  these  rrsoluiions.  Tlif'i'"  was  «i  tiDJC  when  i(  br^anic 
•  Anrot  <  Xpert  that  they  will  wait  t'orever  the  temii-  our  duty  to  pnuseaml  reHect  upon  the  consequences 
uauon  of  (I  negotiation,  which  Eiiglund  never  will  ^  of  any  psn  ular  mer.«ure,  ( where  prinriplc  was  not 
put  an  end  t«,  and  whi<-h  yuti  teem  e()iuilly  diKposed   involved,)  and  the  sternest  :t.v.(;8inan  might  well  ask 

what  would  Kngland   or  1-  ran>'e  say  upon  this  sub- 


to  <;4)iiiinite,  without  ih^.  least  expectation  of  a  satis- 
.  factory  udjustin'.nt. 


ject?    Happily,  that  time  has  lung  since  pnsNcd,  and 


England  don't  desire  Oregon;  she  may  desire  Bucli  ,  our  aft'nirii  arc  ndministerbd  without  the  leawtref- 
colonistB  as  she  has  in  the  east;  the  population  of  j  erence  to  the  opinions  of  any  nation  on  the  globe — 
C>regon  would  require  Loo  much  trouble  to  keep  qui- '  peaceably,  but  jirmly  pursuing  such  a  cturso,  jw  in 
et  under  her  monarrhicAl  institutions.  They  arc  ^  our  best  judgment  is  calculated  to  nerure 'ibcrty  and 
made  of  .sterner  stuti'than  to  bo  moulded  to  lierirou  { the  pursuit  of  hap|)ines8;  and  whatever  others  may 
wUI.  Nordidshe  want  Texas;  she  vyouidnot  liavc  I  tinnk,  I  liave  yrt  to  learn  one  Miij,'le  act  conniv'tco 
lukan  it  for  a  gnvious  gift.  Hut  she  desired  to  see  j  with  r»ur  foreign  noliiy  that  I  would  wish  undone; 
Texas  an  independent  government,  and  an  adjourn-  and  a.5  a  jiroof  oi  the  Integrity  of  our  course,  while 
ment  of  the  last  Congress,  without  the  passage  of  the  we  exacted  and  ro'-eived  compensation  lor  injustiee 
Texas  resolution»,\vould  have  lost  that  beautiful  star  from  the  hands  of  marly  every  foreign  government, 
in  o'lr  glorious  confederacy.  !  need  not  recapitulate  I  believe  the  first  claim  has  yet  to  be  made  against 
the  arguments.  Had  I  beenaTexan,  1  would  never,  this  government  for  r.ijy  injunii'e  done  to  the  weak- 
afu:r  being  twice  rejected,  have  applied  jigain  I'nr  i  est  or  the  .strougosi  power.  A''ts  of  individual  wrong 
ntlmission.  The  recognition  of  her  independence  liy  !  there  may  have  been;  bu'.  I  raniiot  recollect  one  sin- 
Mexico — national  pride — everything  would  havelglo  act  ot' our  governmen'..  tor  which  we  have  been 
coiixpired,  and  the  glorious  policy  of  inactivity  I  called  upon  to  make  repara'iori. 
^oM  have  lost  us  Texas  then,  and  the  same  poli-  a.s  an  American,  as  e  cur.en  of  the  world,  it  is  ft 
cy,  If  persevered  in  now,  will  lo.se  us  Oregon.  She  '  source  of  the  most  sincere  satisfaction,  and  more 
will  never  Ijelong  to  England;  but  they  must  have  :,hnn  all  things  else  makes  me  admire  the  wi.-idom 
■  government  firmly  established— re.-ognized  by  all  of  our  forefathers,  who  transmitted  this  rich  herit- 
tlie  world.  Her  langunge  is,  Where  shall  we  go  r !  age,  and,  wl;en  rightly  and  universally  understood, 
Jf  you  do  not  settle  the  matter,  of  necessity  we  must  will  do  more  in  favor  of  republican  institutions  than 
have  a  government  of  our  own.  England,  with  a  ,  all  the  disquisitions  of  essayists  than  have  ever  been 
pertfct  knowledge  of  the  strength  of  botli  titles, '  written  on  the  science  of  government.  This  fact  is 
knows  that  our  government  will  never  recede  from  ■  worth  more  than  all  i he  theory  upon  the  subject  for 
49°;  but  she  turther  knows  that  there  are  men  of  high  ;  two  thousand  years. 

Mtandini;  ii   both  parties,  who  have  expressed  them- '      «ru».  it  .         i         .i     i 

—.' ,«    .•      .»i  1^  .i.  .u«  •    1-       1  i-ix  1       What  reiusons  have  been  given  to  induce   the  bc- 

■Cives  tdvorabe  to  the  independence  ot  O.'eirop.  and   r^r.i    .  .i  .•  i  i  .•  n 

.L»    ..       -«.,.i.,  ...:ii:»»  .„  uu:j«  u      .'  %i        i   •^  hef  that  the  passage  ot  these  re.soutions  Will  precipi- 

J!    c^i^/tUpt^^'.  H  »"'V'T'     ""^  'f  tateawar.'  'it  re.s;jlveMt8c!f  simply  into  an  Lxpres- 

t'  anop-nqueyn,  some  lucky  moment   ,ion  of  opinion.     It  was  one  of    hJ  happie-st  of  Sir 

S3LJ    TffXrJ^         "^  "'  "*  '"""'"'  '*"  '*"'  '  Boyle  R.'ach".s  bulls,  when  he  said  -tU  best  ,r«y  to 
inoependenccot  Oregon.  •;,  ,  .         .  ■,    ,        •    .l   .••      n    i.» 

.  auoia  aatigtr,  icas  to  meet  tt  plumu  in  the  fare.      hvery 

As  regards  the  inhabitants  of  that  territory,  man  on  this  floor  hu.s,  or  will  hod  it  so,  in  private 
independence  is  certainly  more  desirable  than  any  life,  ami  U  is  equally  true  in  relation  to  nations, 
connexion  with  England;  but  in  relation  to  us,  for  Having  no  ari.=!tocracy  Li  support,  or  favorite  fanii- 
all  prHcticft!  purposes,  I  liad  almost  a-s  soon  see  Ore-  i  lies  to  keep  in  ihe  ascendant,  liu  world  has  become 
eon  belonging  to  England  as  to  see  her  independent,  j  satisfied  that  indivi  lually  and  collectively  the  Amer- 
All  the  advantages  «f  the  China  trade  would  be  lost :  ican  people,  upon  the  slightest  encroachment  on  their 
Ml  us  for<ver.  For  these  reasons,  1  believe  that  a  i  rights,  would  ahnost  as  soon  fight  as  not.  That  idea 
d«Iay  will  be  fatal  to  our  rights  in  Oregon,  and  will  has  kept  them  fVom  many  a  collision.  I  recoHcct 
give  Great  Britain  all  tliat  slie  desirej.  \  when  (Jen.  Jack.so.i  informed   the  French  govern- 

If  the  view  that  1  have  taken  be  correct,  will  Eng-  ment,  that  if  tliey  did  not  puy  ihe  money  they  owed 
land  find  any  just  cause  of  war  in  this  notice,  or  in  ^^^  ^^  would  cause  himself  to  be  paid  in  a  suolmary 
our  taking  possession  of  the  whole  country  .'  I  j  manner;  war  was  consiJ.-red  inevitable;  we  were 
think  not.  England  had  p.  much  st.-onger  interest  in  j  "o  more  prepared  then  than  now;  but  the  French 
maintaining  the  independence  of  Texas  than  she ;  S'^vernment  saw  that  the  [.icople  were  ready  to  sup- 
iias  for  that  of  Oregon,  and  ft;!!y  as  much  right;  |  pofhe  President — the  money  was  promptly  paid— • 
and  yet  she  neither  made  war  upon  us  for  this : '""^ '^^ ''"^ff^ony  of  tJie  two  nations  remained  un- 
wholesalc  annexation  ofTexas,  and  I  have  no  doubt  disturbed. 

For  these  reasons,  .nnd  otiiers  which  have  been 
adduced  by  the  friends  of  this  measure,  which  I  will 
not  tre.spass  on   the  a.iention  of  the  committee  to 


that  she  prevented  Mexico  from  declaring  war;  for 
•he  knows  full  well  that  with  the  United  States  that 

"bjeu«frrta«;ia,v/(«r/inndf//c."Wtt!- with  the  Chinese,   , _ _ _ _ 

wheretheloser  f my s  all  expenses,  is  udifierent  thing  jrccjipitulate,  I  shall  vote  for  the  passage  of  these 
from  a   war  with   tlie  United  States,  when  all  that,  resolutions,  not  be-iBuse  1  am  lO  favor  of  a  war,  but 
she  could  jrain,  would  not  pay  for  the  ammunition    because    I  believe    that 
that  it  cost;   and  my  life  upon   it,  Mr.  Chairman, 
England  is  not  going  to  have  a  war  with  the  United 
State.*,  for  the  s.ike   of  the  Hud.son  Hay  '.'n.mpany, 
or  for  a  fur  trade  that  i.-  .said  :o  diminishing  m  value 
very  rapid!y. 

But    if   ;!ic    President 
the  venerable   Hlatesman 
chairma:i   of   the  Comm/.tee 
and   a'l  of  i;«i  vv'tio  joe    i: 
ought  r:ut   u>  r.fTe::   tiie  r. 


we  are   strictly  within  the 
stipalation.s  of  the  trea'y;  l'ecau:<e  1  hold  it  to  be  the 
mo.^t  certain  means  of  gettinj.'  Oregon;  becau.se  I  be- 
lieve this  administration  i.s  jilcdged  to  use  as  effectual 
means   to  obtain   Oregon,  as    iney  did   to    obtain 
Texa.s;  and  bccaii,se  I  do  no:   indulge  for  a  moment 
should    be    mis?aken,  and  j  ^^'''  '*'^"  '^"^'  ^^^'^  passage  cm   involve   ihis  country 
ovor    the   way,   and'  the  ' '"   *^  ^^'"""i  because  1  camio:  see  the  necessity  of  a 
Forf  i2".    Affai.-s,    different   co\ir9e  where  England   is  concerned  from 
that  pur.-uet!  ui  relation  to  .M<.:xi.'o. 

Before  I  could  ccr.'-en;  ;o  si-.-ction  by  my  vote 


on 

ff.vor  01 

.».:;  C!   til: 


tris  notice,  it 


lousf.   jr>.. 


4 


any  policy  which  might  be  inter))reted  into  a  fuller- 
ing heailancy,  I  must  be  entirtly  uliafied  that 
there  ia  not  lubstantial  danger  of  losing  Oregon, 
and  involving  my  country  in  a  war;  I  muat  have 
"confirmation  strong  as  proofs  of  Holy  Writ." 
"Make  me  to  see  it,  or  ho  prove  it,  that  the  proba- 
tion bears  no  hinge-loop  to  hung  a  doubt  upon,"  or 
I  will  none  of  it. 

There  ia  one  thing  that  cannot  fail  to  gratify  every 
true  American  heart,  which  this  discussion  has 
elicited,  and  which  even  more  than  the  Texan  ques- 
tion shows  '.his  to  be  purely  a  national  one.  The 
advocates  of  this  measure  are  not  confined  to  the 
supporters  of  the  administration  ;  nor  are  they  in- 
fluenced by  sectional  feelings  in  the  views  which 
they  take  of  this  great  ccntintntal  question.  Whigs 
and  democrats  from  the  North,  the  South,  the  East, 
jind  the  West  have  buried  their  pitiful  party  ani- 


mosities and  local  Jealousies,  and  only  vie  with 
other  as  to  the  mo^t  eflfcient  manner  in  which  the 
will  support  an  American  President  in  his  man  ' 
and  patriotic  atten\pt  to  settle  this  American  que 
tion;  and  if,  in  the  manner  of  acquiring  Oregon,  m 
differ,  it  only  proves  the  freedom  and  independent 
that  characterize  an  American  statesman  and  a  ri 
publican  Congre&s.     Let  us  not  degrade  the  digni 
of  the  subject,  by  harboring  for  an  in.stant  the  id 
that  President-making,  or  political  capital,  influcnr 
the  action  or  the  vote  of  a  solitary  member  on  tl' 
floor;  and  whatever  plnn  shall  be  finally  determir- 
upon,  and  should  a  collision  with  any  foreign  coo 
try  unfortunotely  ensue,  let  this  sentiment  meet 
unanimous  response  from  every  member  of  t! 
Congress,  and  the  people  from  the  St.  Lawrence 
the  Rio  Grande  will  re-echo  it  back:  "Our  country 
our  whole  country — right  or  wrong." 


mly  vie  with  ten. 
ler  in  which  thf 
ent  in  his  man 
ii  American  que 
lirin^  Oref^on,  v 
and  independen 
iteimaii  and  a  r 
grade  thedij^ni 
in  instant  the  id 
capital,  influcn( 
f  member  on  t} 
finally  determin 
any  foreign  coo 
sentiment  meet 
'  member  of  t! 
:  St.  Lawrence 
c:  "Our  country 


